The UU History Renaissance Module will be offered in an online format by the Central East Region. This training requires that you attend 6 online sessions from 1-3 pm ET on March 15, 29, April 12, 26 and May 10. The 6th date will be determined by the participants. Registration is limited to 12 participants and the fee is $175 per person. 1/2 scholarships are available to those in the Central East Region. Registration deadline is March 12, 2018.

The Unitarian Universalist Theology Renaissance module helps religious educators explore a number of key theologies and theologians from our Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist heritages. It asks participants to engage with the views presented and offer their own considered viewpoints. This program, then, invites religious educators into both a deeper knowledge of our liberal religious heritage and a more profound understanding of their own beliefs, thereby equipping them to help others on their theological journeys.

The participant goals of the module are as follows:

Develop a sense of the broad scope of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist theology and some of the theologians and thought leaders, historical and modern, who have contributed to Unitarian Universalist thought

Understand some of both Unitarian and Universalist theological foundations of Unitarian Universalism

Develop and articulate their own point of view on key theological questions

Apply theological understandings to real-life liturgical and educational forms to help people of all ages explore theological questions

Nurture a theology of justice and service in individuals and congregations.

This module is an online learning experience comprised of six two-hour webinars with reading and assignments for each. Credit will be offered for full participation in the module.

Full participation includes:

On-line attendance at all webinars

Reading, reflection, and activities to prepare for each session, which will require about two or three hours’ time. Purchase or borrow the book A People So Bold edited by John Gibb Millspaugh available from the UUA Bookstore (also as an e-book).

Discussion. Each session includes questions for reflection on the readings which form the basis for discussion in each session. Participants are expected to be fully prepared to participate in online discussions after reflecting on the questions, perhaps in a journal.

Written assignments. After each webinar, participants are to reflect on the readings and discussions and think of a way they might share what they learned in their professional work. They need not actually carry out this plan before the next session, but are asked to share it with the group in written form (roughly 250 words) in the session’s discussion forum. Assuming two weeks between webinars, the written sharing should be posted in the week after the webinar so that the following week can be devoted to the reading and preparation for the next session.

A final project and presentation that shows a way to use what they have learned about Unitarian Universalist theology in their professional work. The date for the final presentation webinar will be agreed upon by the co-leaders and the participants. Completion of this final webinar is required for full course credit.

Participants are encouraged to use a laptop or computer with headset (not ear buds) and camera (does not work as well from iPad); have phone handy in case you need to call in instead of using computer audio.